I have received my official baptism as a Prince Freak! I was able to go to the LA One Night Alone Show Saturday 4/20 & let me tell you, Prince was in full blazing glory!!! I just cannot believe how amazing this whole experience was, it surpassed anything I could have imagined. Joining the NPG Music Club was the best $100 I ever spent. The perks are amazing. The cost of $125 for tickets through the club might sound expensive but the free aftershow more than made up for the value of the ticket.

This is my 3rd Prince concert. The first 2 concerts, I was seated in the balcony, almost as far away from the stage as you can get. Even though I was offended and irritated that Prince offered up censored material on the first year of the club, I still joined 2nd year to take advantage of the special perks that members receive at the concerts. If you haven’t joined, you’re a fool.

Saturday began around noon when my friend Angie & I arrived on line outside the Kodak Theater. We stood online for about 5 ½ hours but meeting new people and socializing made the time pass rather quickly. The time comes for our entry into the soundcheck. Angie and I enter from the left-hand side and saw that at least the first 5 rows were already taken up. We continued onto the other side of the theater and my friend spotted 2 seats and we ended up sitting in the third row!!! It was actually the first row but they set up 2 rows of chairs in front of the first row which then became row 3, but that was fine with me. I hope you understand the magnitude of getting 3rd row seats. My only Prince concert experiences were from the nosebleed sections. I’d say that is worth joining the club right there.

The soundcheck began and Prince was literally 20 feet in front of me playing his tunes on the keyboards!! He interacted with the crowd, which was cool to see. It was great to see him in this mode, fine tuning the show. Highlights for me during the soundcheck were Can’t stop this feeling I got & Money Don’t Matter Tonight. 2 songs I love and never thought I’d hear him perform.

Now the Concert. Ok, for all you out there that hate Rainbow Children, drop your hate and come see this concert! The music was absolutely amazing. The band is in excellent form. Each member is as good as the next. Blackwell is scary to watch. I noticed that he could even twirl those drumsticks even as his arms are moving about those drums at Matrix speed. Musically I love the Rainbow Children but I never expected the live performance of those songs to eclipse the album versions. The live translation was out of control! Xenophobia is the song that is looped on the NPGMC website. From that clip I wasn’t too excited to hear this live but OH MY GOD, they threw down so hard on this one. I cannot wait to get this CD in the mail. Actually, before the concert started they were playing some instrumental stuff over the speakers and I heard Xenophobia playing in between some of those songs so I’m assuming that it was the new music Candy Dulfer spoke about. It was Madhouse 2002 style with a freaky twist. I really really dug what I heard and can’t wait to get hold of it.

Prince ripped it up on the guitar left and right. The first concert I went to he picked up the guitar one time and barely played it. This night he was rippin that shit up! I was amazed watching him play that close up. It seemed at times almost like he was possessed. You could just see him being taken over by some force that used his fingers to speak its amazing voice. At one point Sheila E came out and sang Love Bizarre!! Another of my all time faves that I never thought I’d see. Other highlights for me were Strange Relationship, When U Were Mine, Adore, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Free & ESPECIALLY Annastesia! Prince did a ballad medley but the difference between this medley and the medley from the last Hit & Run tour was night and day. This medley was done with such heart. It didn’t sound manufactured like the Hit & Run medley. It just felt so genuine. This concert definitely blows away the Hit & Run concert I saw in Vegas 2000. Blows it away.

Prince did preach a little bit but it wasn’t too bad. He said “I’m not here to preach” but he did it anyway. He went off on a tangent about the importance of knowing God’s name. It wasn’t excessive or overbearing so it didn’t bother me to much. The only thing I want to say about this is that IMO it is NOT important AT ALL to know God’s name. The very notion that someone, who may be uninformed of God’s “name”, will be ignored by God because they did not use his name to address him is the ultimate in triviality. God has to be a little more evolved than to play petty games like ignoring his creations because they failed to address him properly.

Now the Aftershow. We got to the aftershow and were hearing rumors that club members might have to pay and that the guests of the club members would have to definitely pay. We were kinda bummed about the possibility but we stayed anyway. Turns out that both the Members and their guests were given free entry. We were also let in before the general public. I was 5 feet from the stage!! Prince played another 2 hours. Prince played some amazing music but the absolute highlights of the aftershow were Beautiful Strange & Calhoun Square. I LOOOOOVVVVVE Calhoun Square to death. They played such a kick ass version of CS. Damn. I’m not a huge fan of Larry Graham’s (Love the music / hate his influence on Prince) but Larry played that bass and I really did get to witness why he’s considered such a master of his craft. He was absolutely incredible on the bass.

The only downer in this amazing wonderful experience was this bitch that was trying to cut her way up front at the aftershow. She was trying to bypass me by pushing me out of the way and I just leaned back up against her. She thought she’d be slick and invite me to go up to the front with her and when I declined her offer she started slamming against me and flailing her arms in my face. Eventually she got so out of control that a fight started and my friend Leena and I helped to break it up. I hope this somehow gets back to that bitch…..I hope you overdosed on whatever drugs you were on. Fuck you for bringing such nastiness into a perfect night.

Overall everything went very smooth. Major props to Chris, Carrie LA, Carrie Canada, Krystina, J7 and anyone else who helped out for signing people up as they arrived on line before the concert. The Bump Squad in conjunction with the NPG/Kodak staff made things run so smooth. Way smoother than LA is ever given credit for.

Experiencing this whole weekend with friends that I consider family made everything that much better.
Our LA group really is turning into a great family. I hope it gets bigger and better. I am still so high from this weekend. This memory will be with me til I die.

Thank you Prince!
Love God, Love Life, Lovesexy

Organgrinder The Magnificent

After this weekend, I'm truly speechless, or rather, there are not enough words to describe what kind of experience this show (Sat 20th) was for me. Prince, the MUSICIAN is BACK with a vengeance!!!
Special thanks...to Alan, Kevin, J7, Danielle, Kat, Gilbert, Richard, Angie, Andrea, Ben, Val, Bobby, Lawrence, Dee Dee, Dina, Dave, Lex, Mia, Cyndi, Shalon, Cristina, Mecca, and anyone else I may have booty-bumped during both the concert and the aftershow...for making the night so wonderful and memorable...

Ben & Val, it was so great to finally meet you two after all these years!

J7, Carrie (Canada), Chris, Carrie...thank you all for really keeping order with the line.

The NPGMC and Bumpsquad presence was really felt and (I'm sure) appreciated. Everyone's efforts all around made this a great weekend for all.

I'm still tinglin'!!!

Krystina (PARADISE7)

NOT SURE HOW TO RESPOND ITS MY FIRST TIME..WHOOO HOOOO....JUST SAYING SHOUT OUTS TO CHRISTINE,SHALON & CRAZY BOBBY FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE...LOL..HELLLOOOO TO MY FOLKS IN LINE VERA AND SHIT I FORGOT YOUR NAME GIRL BUT YOU WERE WITH YOUR BROTHER IN THE BALCK SHIRT..YOU HAD REDISH LONG HAIR .....THANKS ALSO TO THE GIRL FROM PASADENA FOR SHARING YOUR UMBRELLA FOR A QWIK MOMENT TILL WE HAD TO MOVE INTO THE SHADE EMAIL ME SO WE CAN HOOK UP.

OH AND SHOUTS OUTS TO THE GUYS WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM JAPAN HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A BLAST I WAS THE GIRL RIGHT NEXT TO YOU GUYS HELPING KEEP ALL THE STAGE CRASHERS OUT OF OUR WONDERFUL VIEW ....

BEST MOMENT OF LAUGHTER WAS WHEN WE ALL WERE ASKED OVER AND OVER WHO WE WHERE IN LINE TO SEE LOVED WHEN WE FINALLY SAID..NEIL DIAMOND,ELVIS OR WAYNE NEWTON.....


SEE YA NEXT TIME....MECCA

I agree on the Calhoun Square and Beautiful Strange. But I screamed when he did Do U Lie?, Girls & Boys, Joy N Repitition and Paisley Park which is prolly as far back as Prince is gonna go from now on.

Hey long as LRC is out of the playlist, I'm happy

I loved Adore, of course, but got my groove on to Pass the Peas.

MAD PrOp N pOuNdS to the NPGMC & the LA BumpSquad!!

Yall handled yall's thang like *stars*.....the Rainbow Girls of the BumpSquad all front and center . It truly was a glorious experience and seeing Kerry get to sit on the Cool Pillows was a treat

And members were treated royally at the HOB and throughout the weekend. Sam and Chris were very helpful and fast for all the folks in the line. I think it's far better for the NPGMC to handle their own sales.

I'm still a$$-whooped but wanted to say what a great Ride.. and it started again here in the Bay....Oh Lawd!! I need some wheatgrass juice, pronto!

~Adore

NeptunEos said:

We were glad you got to party LA style too Eos. It was a pleasure to finally make your aquantiance!

I went to the 1st chicago show back in march but actually "experienced" the 2 shows on sat. This was Prince at his Funk in Yo Trunk best, he had that hungry look I haven't seen in quite awhile. He's an artist who thrives on call & response which means when the crowd responds to his talent he can't help but give as much as he gets & LA/CA was well represented with No cal & So cal giving the love simultaneously. Quick highlights - soundcheck - his quick wit when people would call out requests & he'd respond "what do ya'll think I'm a jukebox"? 3 fan walk in to find their seats & prince quick not to miss a thing says "Hey your late, I guess we can get started now"... The Joni Mitchell cover from Court & Spark methinks? I pride myself on remembering song titles but if anyone out there knows it's the song that Rhonda sang at the s. check. The main show just had him in full showmanship effect commanding the stage like only he can hitting every note like on guitar & vocal like he invented it. Muse to the pharoah live just kicks arse, & Avalanche reminds you why the man is in a league of his own. The aftershow which i didn't think would happen even after I went to the HOB earlier & talked to a guy there who said there would be a show but upon finding out he played on fri i didn't think he's actually play 2 after gigs, boy i couldn't be more wrong. The highlight I must echo was "Beautiful Strange" which after hearing the s. check report from 2 weeks ago spurred me on even more to make the drive from S.F. The live blues driven version had everyone in perfect synergy with the man, he creates a mood with that guitar & voice that has to be seen to be believed, I still feel that track more than 24 hours later & Calhoun Square, Good Lawd! I now have to find some pennies in my pocket for the Oaktown gig, people we are truly blessed to be able to live to see this talent.

Superfunkyorgangrindersexy said:


Man, that's BRUTAL!!!! Freakin' classic! That cracked me up like you wouldn't believe.....glad ya had a good time.

A Peaceful Wild to you, SuperFunky!
And a Peaceful Wild to all Ya'll else!
T-O-DoubleD

adorepfunk said:

heeeyyyy Adore!!!
thanks baby! I am still smiling!!!! I am getting to tell the story over and over...that was sooo worth the trip!!!]
I just love u guys, i caught the show in Buffalo, Cleveland and DC, but its LA that is my peeps!!!!! The shows are just better with all of you!!!! Hella fun!!!8)
just got back to canada a few hours ago! I cannot WAIT for the celebration!!!!

Hey Kerry!!! I miss you already girl. It was a bummer our "Mini Celebration" had to end!! I can't wait until the whole gang gets back together in Minni!!

HEEEEEYYYYY!!

ROFL!!
Chris

Organ, I'm glad you had such a great time!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Hey Organgrinder! I recognized you from your profile pic...too shy to say hi, though...I dug the outfit you had on...very cool...

Resistor said:

>>Hey Organgrinder! I recognized you from your profile >>pic...too shy to say hi, though...I dug the outfit you >>had on...very cool...

One thing you will find out about me, I aint too shy. You shoulda come and said hello. I'm always down for meeting new freaks. Thanks for the compliments on the outfit. I love it too.

NPGen2002 said:

_____

must of been amazing!! wish i could of been there!

PRINCE & THE NPG were off the hook @ the House Of Blues afterparty! What an amazing performance of Beautiful Strange with that cool guitar solo Prince played! (just one of the highlights of the night)! But the surprise of the night 4 me and alot of people there was the amazing bass playing solo of Mr. Larry Graham! I knew he was good, but I didn't know he was THAT good! Especially when he made that bass sound like a guitar!! He played that bass like a madman. No one would think he was a JW playing that bass like that! =)

kamasutra said:

Oh so it's like that... no fun seeing the shows with your Canadian girl... well hmph!

b. strange was off the hook, it reminded me when he reinvented she's always in.. at the Vegas aftershow in dec. 2000, totally playing in the moment & mesmerizing all that was there. I'm hoping for an afterparty/show in oaktown tonight..

Samantha said:

Now u know I roll with the bumpsquad/dreamfactory girl!
But T.O will always and forever be home especially since Prince is now living round the way!!
And u know had hella fun in cleveland and DC 2gether!!!
I just think u're momma ain't gonna let u play with me anymore!!!!!

NPGen2002 said:

oh we are gonna turn this mutha OUT! in Minnie THIS year its ON!!!!!